BOLTON councillors have vowed to continue their fight under-age drinking after a report today blamed alcoholic fruit drinks for an increase in teenage boozing. And councillors - who were among the first in the country to ban billboard adverts for the drinks - claim the new revelations endorse their tough stance.

Figures released by Off Licence News reveal that 68pc of under-18s said alcopops were their favourite alcoholic drink.

And brewers' watchdog The Portman Group has also ordered that cartoons which appeal to kids should not be used on the labels of the drinks.

Bolton Council's land-sub committee banned posters for drinks such as Hoopers Hooch and Two Dogs alcoholic lemonade in January after Astley Bridge Cllr Stuart Murray raised the concerns.

In the new survey almost 80pc of police licensing officers questioned nationwide said the problem of under-age drinking had increased during the past five years.

Today Cllr Murray said: "Sadly this report reinforces the very genuine concerns we had a year ago which led to the advertising ban. "We must continue to be vigilant and call on the drinks industry to review their code of conduct. At the same time as councillors we must stress to local parents that these are very strong alcoholic products which are masked to hide their true contents."

Cllr Murray clashed in a public row with The Portman Group's director of public affairs Andrew Chevis following the ban.

Cllr Murray said: "I am not complaining about the drinks themselves. My main concern is the way they have been targeted at children."

But Mr Chevis said: "It appears to me that the committee has been struck by a bit of political correctness."

Alcohol Concern claims tougher legislation is needed. Director Eric Appleby said: "The survey comes as timely confirmation that alcopops have become extremely popular among very young people.

"Unless the drink trade takes drastic action to reduce the popularity this is a problem which will worsen with devastating results for young people, in the shape of alcohol poisoning, accidents and other problems."

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